Splitboard Binding Mount for Use on Snowboards

ABSTRACT

Mounting system for attaching splitboard bindings or slide-mount bindings to non-splitboards or snowboards as to use multiple boards with one set of bindings, or interchange bindings quickly. Accomplished by using an assembly comprised of two congruent parts, namely a receiver plate and receiver plate retainer, that affix to a snowboard to allow the above mentioned bindings to slide on and off of any snowboard mounted with said assembly. A receiver plate retainer rests in and atop a notched and patterned receiver plate that, when fastened, creates a solid but angularly adjustable mounting system for said bindings to be securely fastened to a standard snowboard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/592,494 filed on Jan. 30, 2012,entitled “A means for attaching Split-board specific bindings or slidingrail bindings to non-split-board or regular snowboard,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

REFERENCES CITED

Cited Original Patent Filing date Issue Date Assignee Title 5,984,324Aug. 14, 1997 Nov. 16, 1999 Voile Man- Touring ufacturing Snowboard8,226,109 Jun. 11, 2009 Jul. 24, 2012 Splitboard Bindings

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most snowboarding occurs within the monitored boundaries of a skiresort. Often snowboarders own several snowboards, each with slightlydifferent shapes, camber, and/or varying levels of stiffness, for use indifferent snow conditions and territory on the mountain. A growingpopulation of snowboarders also own a splitboard and splitboard bindingssuch as but not limited to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324(Wariakois) and U.S. Pat. No. 20120256395 (Ritter) respectively. Asplitboard as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324 (hereby incorporatedin full by reference) is comprised of a pair of “skis” (two halves of asnowboard) that may conjoin via hooks or latches to form what looks likeand functions as a snowboard. Wariakois' splitboard design is centeredaround the idea of allowing one to approach and climb a slope on two“skis”, and consequently descend that slope via snowboard configuration,with “skis” latched or hooked together. As Ritter points out,“Backcountry splitboarding, which combines ski touring and snowboarding,thus requires boot bindings adaptable for both ski configuration (i.e.one to a ski) and for snowboard configuration, (i.e. joining the skis asa snowboard)” (U.S. Pat. No. 20120256395). As such, backcountrysplitboarding also requires binding mounts for both ski configurationand snowboard configuration. Ski configuration binding mounts would runparallel to the individual ski members, whereas, snowboard configurationbinding mounts would run at an adjustable angle, each foot across bothski members (traditional snowboarding stance.) For the purposes of thepresent invention, only the binding mounts for snowboard configurationare relevant and below-mentioned.

Wariakois' binding, according to Ritter per U.S. Pat. No. 20120256395,employs “one widely used configuration of the prior art [in which]mounting block assemblies are attached in pairs crosswise on theopposing ski member halves of the splitboard, one pair for the forwardleg and one pair for the back leg. These mounting blocks, disclosed byWariakois in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324 (hereby incorporated in full byreference) include a toe mounting block and a heel mounting block, whichare designed to slidingly receive an adaptor mounting plate . . . .”These prior art mounting blocks' are structurally designed with holepatterns, by which they are affixed to Wariakois' splitboard or anyother industry standard splitboard. Splitboard hole patterns are wider(at 85 mm by 25 mm) than a snowboard's (at 40 mm by 20 mm, 20 mm by 20mm, both industry standards), making these mounting blocks unable toaffix to a snowboard.

Per U.S. Pat. No. 20120256395, Ritter designed new bindings to fitWariakois' mounting block design. Rather than needing an additionaladaptor plate, Ritter's bindings slide directly onto Wariakois' mountingblocks.

The present invention provides a receiver plate and receiver plateretainer that slidingly accept Ritter's splitboard binding or the likesthereof as laid out in U.S. Pat. No. 20120256395. Ritter's splitboardbinding is structurally superior to prior art, and the present inventionherein stated now allows Ritter's bindings to be affixed not only tosplitboards but also to snowboards. The option of mounting a traditionalsnowboard with splitboard or slide-mount bindings does not exist inprior art.

The present invention allows snowboarders to use a slide on and offbinding for splitboards on snowboards as well. Snowboarders can own oneset of bindings and multiple boards with the present invention affixedto each board. Each system on each board has a set stance, angularlydetermined, that the rider may take advantage of easily, switching thebindings from board to board quickly. Thus, on a powder day, a rider mayswitch his bindings onto the board he prefers for deeper snow thatalready has his stance in place. He need not adjust the stance each timehe switches boards.

The dimensions and sizing to fit a splitboard are an extreme limitingfactor in providing a way to firmly mount a splitboard binding onto atraditional snowboard and still allow for adjustability of the angleswhile making a product strong enough for the rigors of riding. Given theamount of different snowboards and different bindings, it is not easy tochange bindings between the various types of snowboards, and usuallybindings are specific to boards or vice versa. This can make it verydifficult to change bindings from board to board let alone the hassle ofswitching screws, screwing and unscrewing, and adjusting the angles ofthe various boards one might own. The end result of the presentinvention is that any board can now be used at any time, for changingconditions or preferences with a single pair of splitboard orslide-mount bindings.

Many other binding systems use different holes, disks, or tracks toattach said bindings to a board; these various systems make itimpossible to own multiple boards and use the same binding. Thus thepresent invention solves the problem of having to buy multiple sets ofbindings for multiple boards. It makes stance adjustments simple andswitching bindings between boards even simpler.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed here are mounting plates for attaching splitboard bindings toa snowboard. Contrary to presented teachings herein, teachings of theprior art disclose a series of mounting blocks designated for use on asplitboard with no prior art or solutions in disclosing the ability oroption to use mounting plates for the purpose of riding on a snowboard.The object of the present invention is to make mountable a pair ofsplitboard bindings, which use a box girder type construction, variformbox girder construction, or any similar means of a mediolateral flangeattachment, to slidingly be placed on a snowboard as defined herein. Nosolution has been offered in the prior art to accomplish this, asmounting points are different on a snowboard comparatively to asplitboard. As previously defined, a snowboard is comprised of onesolidly laminated piece that is inseparable. Due to the narrower holepatterns of a snowboard, there are many constraints in size and strengththat must be overcome in order to mount splitboard bindings to asnowboard. The receiver plate and receiver plate retainer interfacedesign allows for the weight of a snowboarder, translated through hisbindings, to be distributed effectively from edge to edge of thesnowboard, regardless of the narrower hole pattern. It provides a strongsolution over the now longer area it must cover with minimal bolts whilestill functioning effectively over a wider-spanning distance.

The receiver plate and receiver plate retainer interface providesadequate support to keep a splitboard binding firmly attached to asnowboard. By making the receiver plate retainer of an oblong shape, thereceiver plate can be oriented angularly according to a rider's stancewhile still fitting a splitboard binding. The receiver plate retainerdisperses and channels forces to the edges of the snowboard resulting ina strong receiver plate and receiver plate retainer assembly, alsoallowing quick edge-to-edge response of the snowboard. In function, byresting the receiver plate retainer in the aligned groves, notches, orridges within the receiver plate at a user-defined angle, the tighteningforce on the receiver plate retainer sandwiches the receiver plate inthe correct and chosen orientation as to provide a seamless and attachedassembly to the board granting the user an easy on/off procedure of thesplitboard binding. Thus creating a riding interface not seen before insnowboarding history.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

These teachings of the invention can be easily understood whilstconsidering the following detailed descriptions along with the drawingsand claims, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a receiver plate retainer and receiverplate as forming the assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a snowboard mounted with receiver plateretainer and receiver plate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a receiver plate retainer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a receiver plate.

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a receiver plate using an alternativegroove or notch type adjustment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a receiver plate retainer using analternative groove or notch type adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms below-mentioned are defined herein as intended by theinventor, i.e., they are inherent meanings Any cited works incorporatedby reference that utilize any meaning or definition of a word in thereference that diminishes or conflicts with the meaning as used hereshall be considered idiosyncratic to said reference and shall notsupersede the meaning of the word as used in the disclosure herein.

1. DEFINITIONS

Snowboard: a single, inseparable, and laminated board intended to slidedownhill on the snow, using standard 4×4 4×2 or slot mounting hardware.

Splitboard: A pair of two separable ski members that join together usinghardware and retention clips to take the form of a snowboard.

Splitboard bindings: Consists of a pair: one for each foot of asnowboard rider. Comprised of metal or thermo-moldable plastics. Anytype of snowboard bindings, which use a box girder type construction,variform box girder construction, or any similar means of a mediolateralflange attachment, to slidingly be placed on a snowboard as definedherein.

Receiver Plate Retainer: Center fastening piece in which 4 or 2 boltsare placed through and connected to standard snowboard mountingfeatures. Comprised of metal or composite thermo-moldable plastics.Securely retains the receiver plate at a specified angle for a rider'sstance.

Receiver Plate: rotationally coupled to the receiver plate retainer.Rotates around receiver plate retainer so that a given angle thatcorresponds to the grooves, notches, or slots can be chosen before thereceiver plate retainer is fully tightened to the snowboard.

Rider: One who rides or uses a snowboard to enjoy the thrill of goingthrough and down the snow, also requiring a specific stance or stanceangle coordinated by using the mounting points of a snowboard to makeone's stance angles correct and optimal.

Hardware: standard mounting hardware for snowboard bindings typically ofan M6 style bolt supplied with snowboards or traditional snowboardbindings; used to fasten bindings to a snowboard.

Mounting Point/Insert: exists on both splitboards and snowboards andallows for a screw to be mounted, attaching hardware for the fasteningof bindings onto a board. Splitboard and snowboard mounting points areuniquely different due to the inherent differences in binding types andmounting preferences associated with snowboarding and splitboarding.

2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, this exploded view of the receiver plateretainer (1) and receiver plate (2) shows the assembly when usingstandard hardware to conjoin the two parts for a rider's chosenalignment: as seen mounted to a snowboard's insert (3—FIG. 2). Commonly,snowboards have bindings that mount to them using inserted attachmentpoints or anchors (3—FIG. 2) and usually this is in a 20×40 mmconfiguration or by means of a track mount. Using the holes (5—FIG. 6)in the receiver plate retainer (1), one must insert screws through theholes (5—FIG. 6) in the receiver plate retainer. Mounts/inserts on asnowboard (3—FIG. 2) differ from those on splitboards (see prior artU.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324). Splitboards use a common mounting block as perU.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324. Given the nature and proprietary features of asplitboard under U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324, splitboard mounting blockswere not designed for nor are capable of mounting to a snowboard. Thisdue to the fact that all splitboards use proprietary mountingconfigurations as per U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324. These patterns restrictangular adjustability on any common variations of the mounting blocksand these blocks are further impeded by their lack of strength to spanthe greater distances in insert patterns seen on a snowboard. New shapesand different materials must be chosen to ensure the ability to fasten asplitboard binding to a snowboard given these above listed constraints.

The invention differs from many other board to binding interfaces inthat the receiver plate retainer and receiver plate use a specificallyshaped, molded or milled assembly to allow for bindings (currently madesolely for splitboarding) to be attached to any standard non-splitsnowboard. Furthermore this specifically shaped assembly allowssplitboard or box girder type bindings to be slidingly received by theassembly while allowing freedom of stance options limited to 40 degrees.

The receiver plate retainer (1) is specifically shaped to use the reachof an oblong type shape to create the maximum surface for retaining themaximum surface area and attain a degree of adjustment equal to or lessthan 40-degrees. The stronger receiver plate retainer (1) is thereforeable to extend the flex and structural aspects of the receiver plate (2)to allow for maximum distribution of the side to side flexes andstresses associated with maneuvering a snowboard.

Relationship Between the Components:

The receiver plate retainer (1) is mounted by means of mounting hardwarethrough the receiver plate (2) onto the snowboard using 4 or 2 screwsthat go through the holes (5) in the receiver plate retainer (1) andfasten the whole assembly (9) to the snowboard's mounting points (3—FIG.2), holding the receiver plate retainer (1) against and down on thereceiver plate (2) as to make the receiver plate retainer (1) andreceiver plate (2) pieces conjoin along the grooves, notches, or teeth(6—FIG. 3, 10—FIG. 4, 7—FIG. 5, 8—FIG. 6) at a determined angle to arider's stance preference and hold the tightened assembly (9) to theboard with common and standard hardware provided by board and bindingmakers.

How the Invention Works:

The receiver plate retainer (1) and receiver plate (2) components worktogether to create a mounting surface for a splitboard or box girdertype binding. The receiver plate retainer (1) attaches through thereceiver plate (2) by using screws standard for mounting a snowboard.The receiver plate retainer (1), and receiver plate (2) matingly engagetogether, via corresponding grooves, notches, or teeth (6—FIG. 3,10—FIG. 4, 7—FIG. 5, 8—FIG. 6) and allow the receiver plate (2) to stayfixed in a chosen orientation to the snowboard as retained by themounting inserts in a snowboard (3—FIG. 2). The receiver plate (2)rotates around the receiver plate retainer (1), allowing the stance tobe adjusted only when the receiver plate retainer is loosened for thatpurpose, as once the receiver plate retainer (1) is fully tightened,further rotation becomes impossible due to the effect of the downwardforces on the matingly engaged parts of the assembly (6—FIG. 3, 10—FIG.4, 7—FIG. 5, 8—FIG. 6). Once a given stance angle is chosen and mountinghardware is tightened the splitboard binding can be slidingly receivedby the assembly (9—FIG. 2).

How to Make the Invention:

The invention would be made by either milling, stamping, or molding thetwo pieces, receiver plate retainer (1) and receiver plate (2), frommetal or thermo-moldable plastics. The parts expressed as the receiverplate retainer (1) and the receiver plate (2) are necessary to make asplitboard binding mount to a snowboard. The size of the receiver plateretainer (1) can be changed to make a smaller or larger interface;whereas, the shape of the receiver plate (2) must remain constant due tothe constraints of splitboard or box girder type binding dimensions. Theshape of the receiver plate retainer (1), could be altered to alloweither a smaller or larger size, could be different shapes or materialsas to allow for different stance options or a stronger connection. Thereceiver plate retainer (1) could also have different holeconfigurations to allow different mounting options for new or different,emerging snowboard mounting technologies. The receiver plate (2) can beadjusted to shave weight, harden material, or change the overall flex ona snowboard. The receiver plate (2) can be made of different combinedmaterials to allow for a more flexible interface with a snowboard.

How to Use the Invention:

A person who has a set of splitboard bindings or slide-mount bindingsmade by various manufacturers would purchase a mounting system comprisedof receiver plate retainers (1), receiver plates (2), and associatedhardware. He would then affix these assemblies to his snowboard,allowing him to put his splitboard bindings on a snowboard aside fromhis splitboard, effectually buying one pair of bindings for multipleboards and allowing splitboard bindings to be mounted on all snowboardswhether or not their snowboards have different hole patterns, tracks,etc.

Additionally: The combination of the receiver plate retainer (1), andreceiver plate (2), allows for various other attachments to be connectedto a snowboard such as but not limited to a lock, larger no bindings, noboarding plates, tool assemblies, or padding not limited to rubberinserts that may be added under the plate, changing desired flex of theoverall unit or maintaining a solid grip to board interface.Furthermore, dimensions of the hole patterns in which the mountinghardware is placed in the receiver plate retainer (1) can be changed tofit various hole patterns or alternate hardware preferences.

Herein as stated, the preferred embodiment visually shown and describedis capable of achieving the objective in relation to the presentinvention. These embodiments are described and shown only for thepurpose of the illustration and not for the purpose of limitation; thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, modifications,and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined herein.

1. An apparatus for use on a snowboard allowing splitboard orslide-mount bindings, which use a box girder type construction, variformbox girder construction, or any similar means of a mediolateral flangeattachment, the ability to mount to snowboards that are not splitboards,the apparatus comprising: a pair of receiver plate retainers andreceiver plates, the receiver plate being under the receiver plateretainer, working with common snowboard mounting hardware and insertsfor securing the above mentioned bindings to a snowboard. a) saidreceiver plate retainers of which are comprised of a pair, one for eachbinding, being specific but not limited to an oblong shape to correctlymatch overall weight dispersion across the under-resting receiver plate,providing adjustability to a snowboarders stance angle, comprised ofmetal or reinforced plastics. b) said receiver plates of which arecomprised of a pair, one for each binding, being molded or milled froman elastically deformable plastic or reinforced plastic as to receive,when retained by the receiver plate retainer, a binding.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver plate rotates around thereceiver plate retainer allowing incremental adjustment associated witha rider's stance.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiverplate retainer fastens with standard mounting hardware through the plateto common and standard snowboard mounting points.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the receiver plate retainer's shape is of oblong shapespreading out the applied forces of the torque from a rider's bindingsto the maximum area on the receiver plate whilst allowing the rider touse a preferred stance.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thereceiver plate retainer's shaped teeth, notches, or grooves conjoin withmatching teeth, notches, or grooves in the receiver plate to provideretention to and on the receiver plate to keep it in place and set atthe proper angle for riding.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinadjustments to the preferred angle for a rider can only be adjusted whenthe receiver plate retainer is fully loosened and away form the receiverplate to change the angle as related to the board.